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On Mon, 27 Oct 1997 12:02:43 -0600 "KATHLEEN DIMICK" <kdimick@colsa.com>
writes:
And Bro Brown added:
Both of the times I have been involved in home meetings like this,
there has been a minister, or ministerial candidate present, even if
he was not the teacher.  The pastor has stressed that these are not
services, nor substitutes for services, but in addition to services.
As such, there is a lesson, but not preaching.  There is prayer
requests and prayer.  

Me:
Our church here in Manchester has gone to this setup for our Youth, and
will convert the remainder within one year. We brought the idea both from
Bro Wright's material from some years ago, and from Chruch Growth 2000.
Bro Anthony Tamel in Oak Creek, Wisconsin (Milwaukee, near Bro Harrell)
is the newest source for information. He took a book by Ralph Neighbor,
who is not Apostolic, and put the same ideas in place in the church
there. The church was at 850 and shortly grew to 1300. He cancelled his
mid week service since all were in the many cell groups. He has added a
third Sunday afternoon service and in a idea I really like, they have a
Saturday night service. Bro Tamel has shown that the head of the cells is
the Pastor and that all must answer to him. Thusly the pastor must be
willing to sacrifice some things for the idea to work and the Pastor must
be the driving force  behind the whole sha-bang. The idea that Tamel and
Neighbor expouse is the opposite of what Bro Brown added. They advocate
that the cells are the evangelism arm of the church and that the cells
have a defined program and set of lessons, which they have for all ages
and in 52 week formats. It is a lot easier to ask some one to your house
instead of to the church. After they are converted, they will come to any
services there are. 
On the other hand, there are a HUGE group of "Christians" who say that
the way to the REAL church that they define is by "House churches". They
used to be called "cottage prayer meetings" I joined a list that trys to
define this and all they seem to say is that we don't need a Pastor and
we "can do our own thing, since we are under grace". I see this as a
group of everyday sinners, since they so do sin everyday. <smiley
here-----;-)>
I would be happy to provide any further imput or sources of reading.

Brian Berger
Manchester, NH
Brian_Berger@juno.com